Indiana's confirmed, presumed COVID-19 deaths top 2,500

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Twenty-three more Indiana residents have died from COVID-19, pushing the state's confirmed and presumed deaths amid the pandemic over 2,500, state heath officials said Friday.

Eighteen of the 23 newly reported deaths occurred Wednesday and Thursday, raising the state's confirmed COVID-19 deaths to 2,327, the Indiana State Department of Health said.

The state agency has also recorded 189 fatalities considered coronavirus-related by doctors but without confirmation of the illness from test results. Those deaths give Indiana 2,516'¬ confirmed or presumed deaths from the respiratory disease caused by the virus.

The state health department also reported 389 more coronavirus cases Friday, increasing Indiana's total confirmed cases to 41,746.

To date, 392,887 test results have been reported to the state agency and about 11% of those results have been positive for the coronavirus.

Statewide findings released Wednesday as part of an ongoing study show that the virus' spread has lessened in recent weeks across Indiana.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box has cautioned that Indiana still has active transmission of the virus and Hoosiers must continue to protect themselves and Indiana's most vulnerable through social distancing, mask-wearing and hand-washing.